Arsenal defender William Saliba has laid down a monumental challenge to his teammates, declaring that the club is capable of achieving a historic Quadruple of trophies this season. The French international's bold statement comes fresh off the back of the Gunners securing their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Saliba's Bold Declaration for Trophy-Hungry Gunners
Speaking after Arsenal's dramatic penalty shootout victory over Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals, Saliba insisted the time for winning is now. "We know that in every competition we play we know we can win it," said the centre-back. He pointed to the team's consistent presence at the top of the Premier League and their run to the Champions League semi-finals last season as proof of their capability.
However, Saliba was quick to temper excitement with a dose of reality, emphasising the need for focus. "We have to show that on the pitch and we have to start winning trophies now," he stated. "The mood is good but we know that we are still in December and things can happen quickly in football." His comments underscore a growing urgency at the Emirates Stadium to convert potential into silverware.
The Path to an Unprecedented Achievement
Mikel Arteta's side are perfectly positioned for a multi-front assault. They currently sit top of the Premier League table and their Champions League group. Their Carabao Cup journey continues with a two-legged semi-final clash against London rivals Chelsea. Furthermore, their FA Cup campaign begins with a third-round trip to Portsmouth on January 11.
This scenario presents a gruelling schedule, with the team facing three games a week until mid-February. Saliba views this congestion as a positive sign, remarking, "Yes, if we have a lot of games, it means we are doing a good job so we have to keep going." He also expressed hope that injured players would return in January to bolster the squad for the crucial run-in.
Learning from Past Near-Misses
Saliba's ambition is framed by recent history. Arsenal have led the Premier League on Christmas Day three times in the past four years but have not lifted the title since 2004. Their last trophy was the 2020 FA Cup. Similarly, in the Carabao Cup, they have fallen at the semi-final stage three times in five years, including a heavy 4-0 aggregate defeat to Newcastle last season.
"We have to learn the lesson from last season," Saliba admitted, reflecting on those disappointments. He stressed the importance of every trophy, including the Carabao Cup. "At the end it is one trophy, and at the end of your career we count our trophies... now we are in the semi-final and of course we want to win this competition, like every competition that we play."
Manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged his team's recent performances, including the penalty win over Palace and a 1-0 victory at Everton, have not been entirely convincing but praised their resilience. "You have to win in different situations and contexts," Arteta said. "Credit to the boys that every three days they are performing at the level that they are doing."
As Arsenal prepare to host Brighton this weekend, the message from within the camp is clear: belief is high, but the hard work to make an unprecedented season a reality starts now.
